WO2007121514A1

WO2007121514A1 - Sign mounting mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2007121514A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/000512
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roc Findlay; Stephen Lucas
Original assignee: Mobile Ad Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-21
Filing date: 2007-04-19
Publication date: 2007-11-01

Abstract

A mechanism (10) for mounting a sign S to a non-magnetisable surface R comprises a first magnet or magnetisable material (12) associated with the sign and positionable at a first side U of the surface R, and a second magnetisable material or magnet (16) positionable at a second opposite side US of the surface R. The magnet at either or both of the first and second sides is selected to be of sufficient strength to interact with the opposing magnet/magnetisable material to thereby mount the sign to the surface. The sign can be of a static or dynamic format. In the latter case, the sign can comprise a digital display. The surface R can be part of a vehicle (e.g. its roof).

Description

Sign Mounting Mechanism

Technical Field

A mechanism for mounting a sign to a non-magnetisable surface is disclosed. The mechanism finds particular application with the mounting of a sign to a non- metallic vehicle roof and will be primarily described in this context.

Background Art

With the growth of outdoor advertising, advertisers are looking at more diverse and/or targeted applications for signage display. For example, it has been known for some time to detachably mount advertising signs to a metallic roof of a taxi using magnets.

US 6,821,593 discloses a mounting assembly for attaching articles to metallic and non-metallic surfaces. In this document a magnet is adhered to a surface, and can be used to attach an article thereto that itself comprises a magnet or magnetisable material. However, this arrangement is somewhat complex to form/manufacture.

A reference herein to a prior art document is not an admission that the document forms a part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, either in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Disclosure

In one aspect there is disclosed a mechanism for mounting a sign to a non- magnetisable surface, the mechanism comprising a first magnet or magnetisable material associated with the sign and positionable at a first side of the surface, and a second magnetisable material or magnet positionable at a second opposite side of the surface, wherein the magnet at either or both of the first and second sides is selected to be of sufficient strength to interact with the opposing magnet/magnetisable material to thereby mount the sign to the surface.

The mechanism provides a very simple means of attaching a sign to a non- magnetisable surface. The sign may be an advertising sign, and the mechanism can thus provide for more diverse and/or targeted applications for advertising signage display.

The sign may be of a static format, wherein the information/images displayed thereat are of a non-moving, static type. Alternatively, the sign may be of a dynamic format, wherein the information/images displayed thereat are moving in a dynamic manner. In the latter case, the sign can comprise one or more digital displays that can optionally receive and display information/images from a remote source. It may alternatively be of a mechanical scrolling type. The first and second magnets can each be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. In other words, a magnetisable material can become a magnet when embodied as part of the electromagnet and a current is applied thereto.

The magnetisable material can comprise any material in which a sufficiently strong magnetic field can be induced including iron, steel and alloys thereof, and other ferromagnetic materials such as nickel and cobalt, and paramagnetic materials such as magnesium, molybdenum, lithium, and tantalum and alloys of these metals.

In one form the first magnetisable material or magnet can be incorporated into a base of the sign. For example, where the sign is elongate, at least two discrete magnets can be incorporated into the base at opposing and spaced ends thereof. The magnets may be detachably incorporated into recesses defined in an underside of the base.

In one form the second magnet or magnetisable material can be affixed to the second side of the surface. For example, the second magnet or magnetisable material can be affixed to the surface second side by an adhesive. The adhesive can, in this regard, comprise a double-sided adhesive tape for ease of installation. One side of the tape can be supplied pre-fastened to the second magnet or magnetisable material, with a detachable film being provided on the other side and being removed just prior to installation.

In one form the magnet strength can be selected such that the sign may be detached by a user from the surface through a force laterally applied to the sign. This can allow for eg. interchange and service of signs, advertising material etc, and also allows for sign detachment from a vehicle during an accident.

In one form the non-magnetisable surface is also of a non-metallic material. However, the mechanism does allow for mounting of a sign to a metallic but non- magnetisable surface material (eg. a sheet of aluminium or copper etc). Usually the non-magnetisable surface is of a polymeric or fibreglass material.

The non-magnetisable surface can be sheet-like (eg. provided in the form of a sheet) with the first and second sides being defined at opposing sides of the sheet. In one typical though not exclusive foim the non-magnetisable surface is a roof of a vehicle, with the first side being defined at an in-use upper side of the roof, and with the second side being defined at an in-use underside of the surface. In this regard, the vehicle can be a self-powered cart or buggy, such as a golf cart or buggy. Alternatively, other vehicles that employ non-magnetisable/non-metallic roof surfaces, such as boats can have signage mounted thereto using the mechanism as disclosed herein.

Thus the mechanism allows for the employment of advertising signage at golf courses and at other venues in which carts or buggies are employed (eg. at amusement parks, resorts and hotels, retirement villages etc).

Brief Description of the Drawings

Notwithstanding any other forms that may be embraced by the sign mounting mechanism as disclosed in the Summary, specific embodiments of the mechanism will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sign mounted on a vehicle in the form of a cart/buggy;

Figure 2 shows a side sectional view through the sign and roof of the cart/buggy of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an end sectional view through the sign and roof of the cart/buggy of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the sign and roof of the cart/buggy of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows an underside plan view of the roof of the cart/buggy of Figure

1.

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a sign S is shown that is mounted to a non- magnetisable, non-metallic roof R of a cart C. The sign S depicted may be an advertising sign having advertising areas A on either side thereof. The cart C may be a golf cart (with golf clubs G being depicted that are located at a rear of the cart). The 00512

roof R is formed from a non-metallic (plastic/fibreglass) sheet that has been moulded into shape for the cart C.

The mounting of sign S to cart C enables advertising to be better and more extensively displayed at golf courses and at other venues in which carts or buggies are employed (eg. at amusement parks, resorts and hotels, retirement villages, etc). Such advertising can be eg. for golf-related equipment, merchandise, venue offers etc.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5, a mechanism 10 is provided for detachably mounting the sign S to an upper side U of the roof R of cart C. The mechanism comprises a first series of permanent magnets 12 that are incorporated into a broad and generally planar base B of the sign. The sign S is elongate, and two discrete magnets 12 are incorporated into recesses RC formed in the base, the recesses being adjacent to respective and opposing spaced ends of the base. The magnets are detachably incorporated into the recesses RC by a respective releasable locking nut and bolt arrangement 14 that extends through and retains each magnet 12 in its respective recess RC.

In the mechanism 10, a second magnetisable material in the form of a ferromagnetic elongate plate 16 is positioned at an underside US of the roof R of cart C. The plate 16 is affixed to the underside US by an adhesive. The adhesive can, in this regard, comprise a double-sided adhesive tape 18 for ease of installation. Alternatively, a high strength curable (eg. liquid) adhesive can be employed. One side of the tape 18 can be supplied pre-fastened to an in-use upper face of plate 16, with a detachable film being provided that is removed just prior to installation, to then enable the plate to be pressed up onto the underside US of the roof R.

The mechanism 10 thus provides a very simple means of attaching the sign S to a variety of non-magnetisable and/or non-metallic surfaces, to provide for more diverse and/or targeted applications for signage display.

The magnets 12 can instead each be defined by a magnetisable material such as a ferromagnetic material and the plate 16 can comprise a permanent or electromagnet. Alternatively both the magnets 12 and the plate 16 can comprise a permanent or electromagnet. In any case, usually the magnet(s) employed are of sufficient strength to interact with the opposing magnet/magnetisable material to securely mount the sign to the roof R (ie. so as not to be removed during usual movement of the vehicle). However, the magnet strength can be set such that the sign may be detached by a user from the surface through a force laterally applied to the sign. This force may also result from the cart toppling during an accident. This can allow for safe sign detachment and for eg. interchange and service of signs, replacement of advertising material etc. Further, the mechanism 10 allows for the mounting of a sign to a metallic but non-magnetisable sheet material (eg. of aluminium or copper etc). However, usually the non-magnetisable surface is of a polymeric (plastic) or fibreglass material.

The mechanism 10 also enables attachment of the sign S to other vehicles that employ non-magnetisable/non-metallic roof surfaces, such as boats, rear covers of trucks, utes and vans etc.

As mentioned above, the magnets 12 or 16 can be defined by an electromagnet. Use of electromagnets enables magnet switching on and off (eg. to selectively enable sign detachment). The electric current for the electromagnet can be supplied from a vehicle battery, or from a separate (eg. dedicated battery) power source. Alternatively or additionally, it can be supplied by an alternator/generator of the vehicle, so that the electromagnet comes into operation when the vehicle is running, hi this latter case, the electromagnet may supplement a permanent magnet in the mounting of the sign.

The magnetisable material can comprise any material in which a sufficiently strong magnetic field can be induced including iron, steel and alloys thereof, and other ferromagnetic materials such as nickel and cobalt, and paramagnetic materials such as magnesium, molybdenum, lithium, and tantalum, and alloys of these metals.

The sign S maybe of a static format, wherein the information/images displayed thereat are of a non-moving, static type. For example, the information/images can be applied to a film which is then positioned at the sign in the areas A (eg. received in an appropriate sleeve or track, or attached by an optionally releasable adhesive, or the film can itself be magnetic/magnetisable as can area A for releasable attachment, etc).

Alternatively, the sign S maybe of a dynamic format, wherein the information/images displayed thereat move in a dynamic manner, hi this case, the sign can comprise one or more digital display screens mounted at or defining area A (eg. back-to-back screens, or specially configured multi-sided screens or screen- configurations, etc). Such displays can then receive and display information/images from a remote source. Such display screens have also, more recently, become very lightweight (eg. around 5 kgs) making them suitable for mounting at lightweight structures.

For example, the information/images can be transmitted wirelessly to the one or more digital display screens (eg. via emf radiation, Blue Tooth RF frequency transmission, infrared transmission etc) to enable a display of real-time information/images. For example, where the sign is used at an event such as a sporting or cultural event, the images can relate to the event (eg. live feeds from various locations, or scores, or statistics, or messages etc). If displaying ads, the ads can also be tailored to relate to what is happening at the event, or can be interspersed with live feeds from the events. hi an alternative configuration of the dynamic format the sign S can be of a mechanical scrolling type, with the scroll and its rolling mechanism being housed within a sign housing. The shape of the housing of sign S can also be tailored. For example, it can take the shape of a sporting mascot, icon etc, or it may take a 3D shape of a brand, logo etc to reinforce an advertising campaign etc.

Whilst a number of sign attachment mechanism embodiments have been described, it should be appreciated that the mechanism can be embodied in many other forms.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features.

Claims

1. A mechanism for mounting a sign to a non-magnetisable surface, the mechanism comprising a first magnet or magnetisable material associated with the sign and positionable at a first side of the surface, and a second magnetisable material or magnet positionable at a second opposite side of the surface, wherein the magnet at either or both of the first and second sides is selected to be of sufficient strength to interact with the opposing magnet/magnetisable material to thereby mount the sign to the surface.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sign is either of: (i) a static format wherein information/images displayed thereat are of a non- moving, static type; or

(ii) a dynamic format wherein the information/images displayed thereat move in a dynamic manner.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein in (ii) the sign comprises one or more digital displays that can receive and display information/images from a remote source.

4. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second magnets are each a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

5. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first magnetisable material or magnet is incorporated into a base of the sign.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sign is elongate and at least two discrete magnets are incorporated into the base at opposing and spaced ends thereof.

7. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second magnet or magnetisable material is affixed to the second side of the surface.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second magnet or magnetisable material is affixed to the surface second side by an adhesive.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein the adhesive is a double-sided adhesive tape.

10. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the magnet strength is selected such that the sign may be detached by a user from the surface through a force laterally applied to the sign.

11. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the non-magnetisable surface is non-metallic.

12. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the non-magnetisable surface is sheet-like, with the first and second sides being defined at opposing sides of the sheet.

13. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the non-magnetisable surface is of a polymeric or fibreglass material.

14. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the non-magnetisable surface is a roof of a vehicle, with the first side being defined at an in-use upper side of the roof, and with the second side being defined at an in-use underside of the surface.

15. A mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein the vehicle is a self-powered cart or buggy.

16. A mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the cart of buggy is a golf cart or buggy.

17. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein, when either or both of the first and second magnets are an electromagnet, the power for the electromagnet is supplied by the vehicle.

18. A mechanism as claimed in claim 17 wherein the vehicle is battery- powered and the power for the electromagnet is supplied by the vehicle battery.